I never have, but you could make a good case for it. If someone will hold onto the equipment for 3-5 years, why not pay for it over 3-5 years, especially if a low interest rate is available? Lots of folks go into debt over cars and they depreciate just as quicly if not more so.

I have some debt on my audio system, not much, but I think paying a reasonable intrest rate makes a lot more sense, and is a lot cheaper, than paying a cable T.V. bill. How many have cable hook up to their home theater system? The important thing is to use credit carefully and stay in budget. Avoid impulse buying at all costs. On the other hand if one would accumulate so much debt that one could not pay it back in a lifetime, that would be like getting stuff for free!!!!

This is a tangential response--I don't go into debt, but have also learned to "buy well once" vs. riding the upgrade carousel. So, I've tended to buy above my target price point but have found much long-term satisfaction. So many a'gon ads feature gear for sale that is weeks or months old--I'd never be able to pull that off. My 'youngest' piece of gear is 2 yrs old (digital front end), but the next newest piece is 8 years old.

I take the disposible cash only route also, unless I really have to take alternate measures to raise the system budget... I purchased my new turntable after multiple visits to my local sperm bank, but now my wrists are still too shaken to mount the cartridge. New amp & pre, may require the sale of a kidney?

I'm glad to see most people have kept this hobby in proper perspective. Good sound doesn't have to be very expensive and there is no reason to take on debt to enjoy great sounding music. Although if somebody took out a loan to purchase a subscription to a concert series or a vacation to a musical festival, that I could kinda' respect.

'debt or no debt' this hobby has been on the train to obsessive-compulsiville for the last two decades. for 90k any 'smart-nut' would run of to mexico for a year and return with 'stories' worth far more than any stereo. either way, your wife is mad.....

I'm not with the majority whom have posted here. I don't pay their bills;they don't pay mine. Nothing like .0 while you sell your piece and then payoff most of that debt. I do live for today and love quality components and their affect on the music.---Or as they say,'works-for-me'.

the only thing i use my CC for in this hobby is to charge the purchase to get the reward points - the CC bill is always paid when due - never a balance! when a big purchase comes around, the wife is even happy to know that a $50-100 crate&barrel GC will be following shortly! ;)

Yet there have been posts on the various forums where people have taken out second mortgages for $100k speakers and so forth. Imagine explaining to your S.O. that you're losing the house over speakers! Given the cost of some of the more outrageuos gear, I would assume there have to be some 'philes willing to take on serious debt. Even if you are well into 6 figures anually salary-wise, somthing like the Alexandrias or the Caliburn would make a significant dent.

Wow! Pretty darn responsible crowd here! Good to see. Although I DO agree that people should not live beyond their means and that America is way too debt and credit card crazy, I can't help but wonder if anyone here has ever financed a jet ski, a motorcyle or a boat or maybe a car that is more than you need to get to and fro? Has no one here charged a big screen TV or a suit at a clothing store or a vacation?

My point is that I will wager than some of you who have rallied so firmly against financing stereo purchases have probably charged other non-necessities. Then again, maybe not - things that make you go HMMMMMMMM!!!!

We have friends who have a $90,000 boat that they financed and pay to store and had to buy(finance) a bigger truck to tow it with. And the kicker is, over the past 2 years they've used it less than 12 times! They've had it for sale for over a year and can't get rid of it.

My brother financed $12,000 for a motorcycle that he hasn't ridden in over a year. They have a new baby and his wife doesn't want him to die on the bike.

How is financing $10-$20k on audio any different? Plus I can always sell me stereo if I need to.

It always amazes me how people will spend thousands on jet-ski's, snowmobiles, boats, sports cars, motorcycles, etc...that they use very rarely. But when they hear how much I spend on audio, which is something I use daily, they think I'm crazy. And I spend very little compared to a lot of people here.

Have not gone into long or medium dept, but what I would consider short term. Makes for a smart move if there is a item you might be able to obtain at a great price in a small window of time. And the savings would amount to much more than the interest to pay off the debt in the few months it would appear on the card.

Ecruz is 100% right on this one. People will finance other toys, collectible cars, plasma TV's, boats and more.I have an aversion to debt. It comes from owning your own business. But I fully understand if someone wants to borrow a few grand to buy something they will use daily, not just a dozen times a year.

Got Bayliner 242 and booked for 15 years/$365/mo.Now THAT's a TOY or even my second home!Thinking of mini HT sanctuary down there (damn, cash only this time...)Need sub 8"max, sub-amp, 12V 6champ or a combo of a few, tweeters(haven't decided how many) and main speakersParts Express, Digikey will do...

If I have the cash I can afford it. Otherwise I have to save more or whatever. At this point I use one credit card and keep a thousand limit on it. I have no other credit cards. The only reason I have the one is after trying to go without one found that I couldn't reserve rooms at the beach etc without it. Wish I didn't have it actually but in this world everybody thinks you're a flake if you don't have a credit card. Kind of funny actually because a high percentage of people with credit cards get themselves into trouble and I consider that to be not too bright.

As I said before, why not finance when it makes sense? What's the difference between financing audio equipment or financing a luxury car when all you need is something much less expensive? The reason I bring this up again is that I remembered that I did finance a system -- my very first!! For $500, I got a very nice JVC receiver and a pair of AR 10 speakers. That was 30 years ago and I still own them (reconed woofers) and my son now listens to the system and loves it! Was it worth it? Absolutely!!!

stick with used gear and screw the urge to upgrade(most upgrades are 'objectively' more different-than-better . have other interests and learn enjoy music in other enviroments than your home. sometimes even the cheapo radio in your car with the windows down is an experience no hi end stereo can come close to.......weed helps too...inagadadavida

It's an investment. Not necessarily for resale. But an investment in enjoyment. I love music. I truly enjoy hearing it played back accurately. It's cost prohibitive paying talented musicians to perform for me at my home any time of day I desire. How long does anyone think they are going to live... . One sometimes needs to stand back and simply enjoy those roses that truly bring one joy.

Something is an investment when it pays out. The value of the pay out is in the head of the payee.

Even if I use a credit card, I don't purchase anything I can't back with cash. Sometimes it is more convenient budget wise to spread the payments out over three months. I have friends that will finance new gear for three years but I refuse to go down that road. Buying gear here on Audiogon allows me to buy brands I would otherwise disregard due to the price for new.